Izquieta was stopped by police a few blocks later with damage to the windshield and front undercarriage of her car, and is being held in Orange County Jail on $50,000 bond. Police reports indicate that she was not on a cell phone and alcohol does not appear to be a factor.

Witnesses said Murphy was wearing a helmet and riding in a safe and legal manner when struck. A passing driver stopped to give CPR along with one of his riding partners

Murphy was transported to Western Medical Center ­– Santa Ana. The Orange County Register quotes Lt. Rob Morton of the Newport Beach Police as saying “He’s in pretty bad shape.”

Update: Today’s OC Register reports that Murphy died at Western Medical Center on Thursday; there was no comment from the family. My deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.

What I find interesting is that only 12% of the riders were female — less than the number of children counted — while 54% of riders weren’t wearing a helmet, 38% were on the sidewalk, and 6% were riding the wrong way.

The ride kicks off tonight — appropriately enough on the first night of Channukah — from various points throughout the city, converging on the Plaza Gazebo on Olvera Street around 10 pm. Riders are asked to bring an unwrapped toy valued at $5 to $25 dollars for free admission to the after party; toys will be donated to the East L.A. Women’s Center.

Recently I included a link to the excellent Bike San Diego website, for a story about a cyclist who was ticketed for passing a short row of stopped vehicles on the left, even though that is not prohibited under California law.

The judge upheld the ticket, convicting Andrew Woolley for violating CVC 21202, despite the fact that his actions were explicitly allowed under the statute. According to the judge, the exceptions allowed under 21202 did not apply, since the speed limit on the road is 35 mph, which he determined was the normal speed of traffic — even though 21202 specifically refers to the speed of traffic “moving in the same direction at that time.”

Writing on Bob Mioske’s website, Rick Bernardi offers a great examination of exactly why the judge was in error, while noting that it sometimes doesn’t make any difference if the law is on your side. And contrasts it with a Utah case, in which a cyclist was cited for doing exactly what the judge in the Woolley case said he should have done.

So let me see if I’ve got this right. You can’t pass on the right, and you can’t pass on the left. Or maybe you’re required to break the law one way in Utah, and another in California. Or the judge is allowed to misapply the law one way in one state, and another in the other.

10 comments

Yeah, you may be right, I did consider that; as Shaw noted, we’re two countries divided by a common language. However, in the context of referring to it repeatedly as Boris Johnson’s plan — as “Boris’ bike bays” — it doesn’t sound like a ringing endorsement. Although it is very nice alliteration.

The Evening Standard is, from my limited experience, a tabloid that likes to complain about just about everything. I don’t think that much of the British media has a high regard for Johnson, as the man himself is a boob. Calling him by his first name is also not without precedent, and the past mayor, Ken Livingston, was referred to widely as “Red Ken.” Still, Johnson should be applauded for these efforts. Over there, he’s a rather conservative politician (which would make him a raving leftist here), so it’s especially good seeing a Tory promoting cycling infrastructure.

I feel like I should comment on your seemingly lack of support for all the great work LACBC has done recently, especially with the Bike Counts. This is the first time they have ever been done in LA! I am sure that it takes time for a count to happen and for the data to be entered. For someone who reads your blog regularly, I was a bit disheartened to read your disparaging tone for such great news.
Anyway, just wanted to say good job and excited that LA has a Bike Count. We are finally being counted! Thank you LACBC!

Sorry you found my comments bothersome. There was no effort on my part to disparage the bike count; LACBC does deserve credit for conducting the city’s first count, and as I noted, I did find some of the results intriguing.

However, a number of people have contacted me over the past few months to ask why it was taking LACBC so long to announce any results. Three months is a long time to ask people — especially those who volunteered to help — to wait without any update of any kind.

I don’t know… seeing how long it takes this city to do anything, I think 3 months is not too long, especially since they are doing so much these days with the Bike Plan and other campaigns. Now that I think of it, I did get an update about a month ago from a newsletter they put out. Anyway, just wanted to support all the hard work that everybody is doing.